Tobacco pellet for pipes



y 10, 1960 c. F. ACKERBAUER 2,935,987

TOBACCO PELLET FOR PIPES Filed March 21, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I5 INVENTOR. Uar/ flwferfiauaz ATTORNEY M y 10, 1960 c. F. ACKERBAUER 2,935,987

TOBACCO PELLET FOR PIPES Filed March 21, 1956 2 Sheets-$heet 2 United States Patent 2,935,987 TOBACCO PELLET FOR PIPES Carl F. Ackerbauer, Johnstown, N.Y., assignor to 3ohnstown Research Associates, Inc., Johnstown, NY a corporation of New Jersey Application March 21, 1956, Serial No. 573,031 2 Claims. (Cl. 131-=-3) This invention relates to a pellet, cartridge, capsule or package of smoking tobacco of a size and shape to substantially fill a bowl of a pipe, and one object of the invention is to provide such a package which shall embody novel and improved features of construction whereby the package can be contracted and expanded within certain predetermined limits to permit the package to snugly fit pipe bowls of varying capacities or sizes, and at the same time ensure adequate draft or circulation of air through the package for easy and pleasurable smoking.

Another object is to provide a package of this character which shall comprise a predetermined quantity of tobacco wrapped in a novel and improved manner in suitable sheet material such as aluminum foil in such a way as to permit expansion and contraction of the wrapper both laterally and longitudinally to provide for a proper fit of the package into pipe bowls of different sizes and at the same time to provide passages forair through and around the package.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved wrapper or casing for a predetermined quantity of tobacco, comprising a substantially cross-shaped single piece of sheet material such as aluminum which can be easily and quickly formed into a cup-shaped receptacle for tobacco.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved tobacco package of the character hereinabove described whereby a package can be easily and quickly produced at a low cost which shall be capable of withstanding relatively rough handling, for example during shipping of the packages and while the package is being inserted into a pipe bowl.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a forming mandrel shown in broken lines and a blank of which the casing or wrapper of the tobacco package is formed; 7

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the blank of Figure 1 partially shaped around the forming mandrel;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the blank and mandrel showingthe next step in the formation of the wrapper; 7

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the wrapper of Figure 1 in completed folded condition;

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the wrapper observed from a position at right angles to that shown in ice Figure 4 and illustrating the wrapper in a mold in which the wrapper is finally shaped for reception of a charge of tobacco;

Figure 7 is a side elevational and vertical sectional view of the wrapper showing it in the mold filled with tobacco, and with the closure cap or disk in position just prior .to the completion and closing of the'package;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 7 showing the edge of the wrapper folded inwardly over the cap;

Figure 9 is a plan view approximately on the plane of the line 9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a side elevational and sectional view of a modified form of the tobacco package in the mold during the perforating of the wrapper; and

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the completed package of the type shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive inserted into a pipe bowl that is shown in central vertical section;

Figure 12 is a plan view of a blank of modified form for making the wrapper;

Figure 13 is a central vertical sectional view through another form of a blank and a mold, showing the manner of shaping the blank into a cup shaped wrapper; and

Figure 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the completed but unfilled wrapper formed of the blank shown in Figure 13.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention in Figures 1-9 and ll the reference charactcr A designates a blank of ductile or flexible,- non-toxic sheet material, preferably aluminum, of which the wrapper of the package is formed. This blank is approximately cross-shaped and includes two wings 1 and 2 that extend diametrically oppositely from a central portion 3 which forms the bottom of the wrapper. The wings :1 and 2 are approximately rectangular and of a length somewhat greater than the desired length of the completed package. Disposed in right angular relation to the wings I and 2 are roughly triangular shaped wings 4 and 5 that extend in opposite directions from the central portion 3, each with one edge approximately parallel to the longitudinal edges of the wings I and 2 and with its apex at the margin of the central portion 3. At the junction points of each wing with adjacent wings and with the central pdrtion 3 are angular notches 6, the inner ends or bases of which are disposed adjacent the margin of the central portion. The central portion is of a diameter roughly equal to the diameter of the average pipe bowl for which the package is intended, and the first step in the formation of the package comprises the placing of the flat end of a forming mandrel B centrally upon the central portion 3 of the blank as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 1. This forming mandrel is formed of suitable material such as plaster of Paris, metal, wood or a plastic composition and is of a length greater than the length of the desired package and has its opposite end approximately hemispherically rounded; With the forming mandrel so positioned, the wings 1 and 2 are successively bent upwardly and partially wrapped around the form as shown in Figure 2. Then one of the wings 4 and 5 is bent upwardly and wrapped around the form and partially around the wings I and 2 as shown in Figure 3, after which the other wingv 4 is bent upwardly and wrapped around the form and partially around the wings I and 2 and the wing 5 as shown in Figure 4.

As shown, each wing has two edges that extend outwardly from the central portion 3 and the portions of the wing adjacent said edges are in close overlapping relatively slidable relation to the edge portions of adjacent wings.

Thereafter the form B is removed from the wrapper and reinserted into the wrapper with its rounded end in contact with the central portion 3 of the wrapper, whereupon the wrapper and the form are pressed into a mold cavity C formed in a block D of suitable material such as plaster of Paris the wings thereby being arranged in close relatively slidable contact throughout their lengths and providing the side wall of the wrapper. The upper edges of the wings are then trimmed to the desired length. The bottom end of the cavity is hemispherically curved corresponding to the rounded end of the form as indicated at 7 so that the central portion of the wrapper is rounded as shown in Figure 6. Then the form is entirely removed from the wrapper and the wrapper is left in the mold to be filled with tobacco. Preferably loose tobacco G is placed in the cup shaped Wrapper shell E in three successive increments or quantities as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 7, with light tamping of the tobacco of each increment. Then a closure disk or cap 8 formed of suitable material, for example paper, is placed on top of the tobacco and the edge of the wrapper shell is folded or pleated inwardly over the edge portions of the disk. Preferably the flat end of the form is pressed against the in-folded edge portions and slightly twisted as shown in Figure 8 so as to cause the inturned folds 9 to interlock with each other as shown in Figure 9. Preferably a flexible finger piece or knob 10 is attached to the outer side of the disk 8 to facilitate handling of the disk, and desirably the finger piece will be flexible against the disk as shown in Figure 8 for convenience in packing a plurality of the packages end to end in a carton.

In use of the tobacco package, the package is inserted into the bowl F of a pipe as shown in Figure 11 and lightly pressed endwise, as by the finger of the smoker downwardly into the bowl, until the package snugly fits the bowl, as shown in Figure 11. The closure disk 8 is then removed. During this pressing operation, the wings 1, 2, 4 and slide relatively to each other longitudinally and circumferentially of the side wall of the wrapper and are slightly spread apart so that the notched portions at the junctions of the wings and the central portion are spread apart to form draft openings 11 for circulation of air through the tobacco and through the wrapper.

It will be observed that if the pipe bowl is too large to snugly receive the package, the package may be compressed and expanded laterally within predetermined limits to fit the bowl, while if the bowl is too small for the package, the package may be extended longitudinally within predetermined limits to slip into the smaller bowl.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide additional openings in the wrapper for draft, and in such cases the mold D may be formed with a central opening 12 in its bottom end through which a punch 13 may be inserted to perforate the central portion of the bottom of the wrapper as shown in Figure 10, to form a draft opening 15.

Also, where desired a sheet of suitable filtering material 14 may be placed on the inside of the bottom of the wrapper to prevent the escape of particles of tobacco. This filtering material may be, for example, a small piece of suitably treated asbestos to withstand the heat incident to smoking and which will absorb moisture that may tend to accumulate in the bottom of the wrapper.

Figure 12 shows a modified form of a wrapper blank which consists of a single circular sheet of material H such as aluminum having an approximately circular central zone 16 and a plurality of slits 17 disposed tangentially to said central portion and extending from the central portion through the edges of the disk, and providing approximately triangular shaped wings 18. The Wrapper may be formed by pressing it into the mold D with for example the mandrel B as illustrated in Figure 6 and at and with the the same time rotating the mandrel and the blank relatively to the mold D to cause an overlapping and interfolding of the wings.

Another form of wraper blank and wrapper is shown in Figures 13 and 14. The blank I consists of a circular disk or sheet of aluminum or other suitable material which is formed into a wrapper by pressing the disk into a mold like the mold D with an implement such as the mandrel B and at the same time slightly rotating said implement and the blank in the mold so as to produce approximately helical interfolded portions 19 radiating from the central zone 20 to form the side wall of the wrapper J.

R is desirable that the tobacco to be placed in the package shall be mixed in an atmosphere saturated with a soluiton of water with /1 to percent Sorbitol (Atlas Powder Company) for one hour in a glass tumbling jar rotating at about fifteen revolutions per minute.

The pellet embodying the invention has been found to prevent escape of mositure and flavoring substances from the tobacco over long periods of time, so that the tobacco in the pellet will remain moist and fully flavored for many weeks in ordinary or normal room atmosphere. Furthermore, a predetermined quantity of tobacco may be deposited into the wrapper and then subjected to a predetermined compressive force, applied for example through the mandrel B, so that the contents of each package will be uniform.

While the now preferred embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and changes in the construction of the package can be made within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A cup-shaped wrapper for use in a tobacco package for pipe bowls, said wrapper being formed of a single piece of non-porous, non-burnable, non-toxic ductile sheet material having a central portion providing a bottom wall for the wrapper and having wings each with two edges extending outwardly from said central portion portions of the wing adjacent said edges in normally close overlapping relatively slidable relation to the edge portions of adjacent wings providing the side wall of the package, said wings being relatively slidable both longitudinally and circumferentially of said side wall and providing for expansion of said side wall, said wings, when the side wall is expanded, being spread apart adjacent the junctions of the wings with said central portion with openings between them and being in overlying contact throughout the remainder of their lengths, thereby providing for fitting of the package into pipe bowls of various sizes and at the same time providing openings for passage of air during smoking, there being notches in said wrapper at the junctions of said Wings with said central portion providing additional openings for passage of air.

2. A tobacco package to be pressed into pipe bowls comprising a cup-shaped wrapper of non-porous, nonburnable, non-toxic ductile sheet material having a central portion providing a bottom wall for the wrapper and wings projecting from said central portion in overlapping relation to each other providing the side wall of the Wrapper, and a charge of tobacco in said wrapper, each of said wings having two edges extending from said central portion being normally in close relatively slidable relation throughout their lengths both longitudinally and circumferentially of said side wall and providing for expansion of said side wall, said wings, when the package is pressed into a pipe bowl, being spread apart adjacent the junctions of the wings with said central portion with openings between them and being in overlapping contact throughout the remainder of their lengths, thereby providing for fitting of the package into pipe bowls of various sizes and at the same time providing for openings for passage of air through the tobacco for smoking, and a closure disk removably mounted in 5 6 the open end of the wrapper above the tobacco, the FOREIGN PATENTS end edges of said wings being turned inwardly and angularly pleated over the peripheral portion of said disk to gigs: hold the disk in the-wrapper for closing the package. 62569 Germany 1892 129,127 Great Britain July 10, 1919 References CIted m h file of the Patent 7 203,938 Switzerland Aug 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,037,514 France Apr. 29, 1953 720,007 Dexter Feb. 10, 1903 2,067,338 Power Jan. 12, 1937 10 2,371,389 Goepp Mar. 13, 1945 

